Article vending apparatus



Dec. 13, 1960 L. s. WATLINGTON 2,964,369

ARTICLE VENDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u 'u'uli INVENTOR. LEE 63 MTLl/VQTO/V BYQQ fiZS' ATYUKNEYS' Dec. 13, 1960 L.S. WATLINGTON 2,964,369 I ARTICLE VENDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I l l I J INVENTOR. 55 6 W72 Warm/V BY 46 M 1/15 Tim/my;

United States :mounting plate 15. .Ehub.16. Into the hub. lfi isinserted 'a centerishaft. 17

Di a vending drum 18.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements an an article vending apparatus and more particularly "to t'he type of vending apparatuses which will vend a news- -paper or magazine.

A principal object of my invention is in the provision in an 'apparatusof this character of a rotatabledrum from which the article maybe vended. This drum-is inassociation witha cage providing a vending slot through-which van article may be vended from the rotatable drum.

Another object of my invention is in the provisionin a deviceofthis character of a mechanism 'for rotating a vending drum into vending position.

Still another'object of my invention is in the'provision in a device of this'character'of a mechanism which will "prevent-rotation ofthe vending drum in either direction after the-drumhas been rotatedinto a vending position.

-A further object of my 'invention is in the provision in a device-of this characterof a mechanism which will permit a-vending drum to' be rotated in one direction and which will prevent rotation of the vending drum'in any other direction until it has been rotated into a vending *position.

Still a further object of my invention'is in-theprovision in a device of this character of a manually operated -mechanism for actuating the vending mechanism of my "invention.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the'novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred "form of construction, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my inventionshowing a part of the housing broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational sectional view of my invention with the housing sectioned;

Fig. '3 is'a top plan view of my invention taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary 'detail sectional view of the rotating mechanism as employed in my invention in its idle'position; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional'view of the same mechanism in its actuated position.

Referringto Fig. l, I show a housing'li). In this particular instance, the housing is circular but my invention can readily be positioned in operation with a housing .of a different design.

The housing 10 has a delivery slot 11 formed in the wallthereof. A suitable manually actuated handle 12 protrudes from the housing 10, as well as a coin receiving :slot 13, it being preferred that my vending device be coin-operated.

'On thebottom wall 14 of the housing 10,'there is a This mounting plate 15 provides a atent it The vending drum 18 consists of a top plate 19 and-a bottom plate 20. Separate compartments A are provided bya plurality of walls 21. These walls 21'orig'inateabout acenter post 22 and extend in an actuated path from saidpost .22 to predetermined points on the peripheral edge of the drum 18 as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The-termination points of each of the walls, 21 are equally spaced with respect to each other and are approximately the same ;distance apart -as is the width of the delivery slotl l'lyas'seenin Fig. l.

Dependingifrom'the bottom plate 20 of the vending drum 18 is an apron 23. This apron 23 is provided with a series of apertures 24, the purpose and function of which will be hereinafter made apparent.

Within the housing 10 and mounted on the mounting plate 15 is a cage structure 25. This cage structure 25 consistsaofa plurality of spoke like arms 26 which originate'from a center hub '27 which receives the upper end 28 of the center shaft 17 of the vending drum 18 as seen inEig. 2. Thesearms26 extend from the center hub 27 over the top of the top plate 19 of the drum 18 and the'n'are'bent atright angles so as to provide upstanding legs 29. The bottom of each of these legs 29 provides a mounting-fiange 30 which receives a mounting connection in the form of a nut and bolt 31 carried by the bottom plate 15 as seensin Fig. 2. .Each of the legs 29' areradially connected bycircular bands 32. These bands. 32, encase the vending drum .18, with the exception that "at one point they are interrupted, so as to provide :a.

passage 33. This passage 33 of the bands 32 is adapted to be placed so as to be in a corresponding position with :respect'to the delivery slot 11 of the housinglltl as viewed in Fig. l. Thepassage :33 as well as thedehvery slot its center shaft 17 so as to successively align the compartments A thereof with the passage .33 and delivery slot 11, is mounted on the mounting plate 15 between certain legs 29 of the cage 25 and in operative position with the apron 23 carried by the bottom plate 20of the vending drum 18. Referring to Figs. 4 and:5, Ishow a portionof the mounting plate 15. Carried thereby is a support 34. Mounted for slidable reciprocation on the support 34 is an advance slide 35. The support 34 provides vertically extending pins 36 and 37 which pro- -trude intoslots 38 and 39 formed inthe advanceslide 35. The advance slide 35 can then reciprocally :slide the distance equivalent to the length of the slots 38 and 39. The advanceslide 35 provides a vertically extending pivot pin 40. Pivotally mounted on the pin 4B':are a forward stop bar 41 and an advance bar 42. The forward stop bar 41 as well as the advance bar 42each provide a vertically extending pin 43and 44 respectively, it being notedthat the advance bar 42 provides'an arcuated slot 45 through which the pin 43 of the forward stop bar 41 projects. A spring 46 is coiled about the pivot pin 40 and has its ends engaging the pins 43 and 44 respectively, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. By such spring 46, the forward stop bar 41 and theadvance bar 42are urged in opposite directions about the-pin 4% in thedirection of the apron 23. The forward ;stopxbar 41 as well :as theadvancebar 42 each provide a laterallyextending hook portion 47 and 48 respectively. These hook portions 47 and 48 are adapted to be projected into the apertures 24 formed in the apron 23.

Carried by the mounting plate 15 is a reverse stop block 49. This stop block 49 is pivotally carried by a pin 50 provided by a mounting bracket 51. A stop spring 52 is adapted to bear against one portion of the reverse stop 49 so as to urge it in the direction of the apron 23 so that a portion thereof will engage an aperture 24 of the apron 23 as seen in Fig. 4. A forward stop block 53 is pivotally carried by a pin 54 provided by a mounting bracket 55 within the diameter of the apron 23 as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. This forward stop block 53 is likewise provided with a spring 56 which bears against a portion thereof and which normally urges the forward stop block 53 in the direction of the apron 23.

The advance slide 35 provides on one side thereof, a cam block 57. This cam block 57 is adapted to be so positioned so that it will pass under the bottom edge.

of the apron 23 as viewed in Fig. 4. In the idle position of the advance slide 35 as viewed in Fig. 4, it is .seen that the cam block 57 has engaged the forward stop block 53 and pivoted it about the pin 54 against the action of its spring 56 into a position out of engagement with the apron 23. e

The pivot pin 40 provides a linkage connection 58 which is operatively associated with the manual handle 12 which protrudes from the side of the housing 10 as viewed in Fig. 1.

No specific embodiment is shown for connecting the linkage 58 to the handle 12 as such arrangement makes up no part of the present invention, and many methods and/or means may be employed to accomplish this result without departing from the understanding and operation of my invention.

When the handle 12 is released for actuation by the deposit of a coin into the coin receiving slot 13, and is then actuated, said operation through the linkage 58 will cause the advance slide to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. As the advance slide 35 is so moved, the hook portion 48 of the advance bar 42, which is protruding into an aperture 24 of the apron 23, will cause the apron 23 as well as the vending drum 18, to be rotated about its center shaft 17. As the advancing slide 35 moves through its advancing cycle, the pin 43 of the forward stop bar 41 and the slot 45 of the advance bar 42 will withdraw the hook portion 47 out of the aperture 24 where such hook portion 47 was normally at rest. The reverse stop block will be pivoted about its pin 50 and against action of its spring 52 as the drum is rotated in the direction of the arrows as seen in Figs. 4 and 5. As the advance slide 35 initially moves, the cam block 57 will be withdrawn from facial contact with the forward stop block 53 and will permit a portion thereof to come into contact with the apron 23. The apron 23 as well as the drum 18 will advance until a portion of the forward stop block 53 is urged by the spring 56 into the next succeeding aperture 24 as seen in Fig. 5. In such a position as seen in Fig. 5, the drum 18 is prevented from any further forward movement by the forward stop block 53 and is prevented from any reverse movement by the reverse stop block 49. As the slide 35 is returned to its normal position as seen in Fig. 4, the hook 48 of the advance bar 42 will ride out of its aperture 24 of the apron 23 and as the cam block 57 disengages the forward stop block 53, the hook portions 47 and 48 of the forward stop bar 41 and advance bar 42 respectively will again engage successive apertures 24 of the apron 23 to prevent any rotational movement of the drum 18 about its center shaft 17.

To release the drum 18 for loading operation which requires that the drum be free to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4, all that is required is a suitable tool or release lever which may be utilized to pivot the forward stop bar 41 out of its respective slot 24 as seen in Fig. 4. This can be accomplished by reason of the pin 43 and slot 45 connection between the forward stop bar 41 and the advance bar 42. As an example, a suitable slidable lever might be carried by the advance slide 35 which has one end portion designed so as to engage the pin 43 and thus pivot the forward stop bar 41 through the medium of the slot 45.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending apparatus including a housing provided with a delivery slot in its side wall, a vending drum within said housing and rotatable about a vertical axis, said drum providing a plurality of outwardly opening radially-arranged vertically extending compartments, a retaining cage within said housing and having means encircling said drum, said means providing a vertically ex- .tending delivery passage in open communication with the delivery slot of said housing, said means preventing access to said compartments except through said delivery passage, said drum providing a depending peripheral apron having a plurality of equally spaced apertures formed therein, a reciprocal slide within said housing for rotating said drum in one direction to successively move said compartments into open communication with the delivery slot and delivery passage, said slide having pivotally connected thereto an advance bar and a forward stop bar each having a portion thereof engaging certain of said apertures formed in said apron of said drum so as to prevent movement of said drum in either direction about its vertical axis, means yieldably connecting said advanced bar to said forward stop bar and cooperating with the pivotal connection between said slide and said advance bar and said forward stop bar for pivoting said forward stop bar out of engagement with said apron of said drum when said slide is moved in one direction so as to cause said advance bar to rotate said drum about its vertical axis in one direction, and pivotal stop means movable by said slide when it is moved in one direction into engagement with one of said apertures for preventing continuous movement of said drum in said one direction after it has been moved by said slide a pre-determined distance.

2. In a vending apparatus including a housing provided with a delivery slot in its side Wall, a vending drum within said housing and rotatable about a vertical axis, said drum providing a plurality of outwardly opening radiallyarranged vertically extending compartments, a retaining cage within said housing and having means encircling said drum, said means providing a vertically exending delivery passage in open communication with the delivery slot of said housing, said means preventing access to said compartments except through said delivery passage, said drum providing a depending peripheral apron having a plurality of equally spaced apertures formed therein, a reciprocal slide within said housing for rotating said drum in one direction to successively move said compartments into open communication with the delivery slot and delivery passage, said slide having pivotally connected thereto an advance bar and a forward stop bar each having a portion thereof engaging certain of said apertures formed in said apron of said drum so as to prevent movement of said drum in either direction about its vertical axis, means yieldably connecting said advanced bar to said forward stop bar and cooperating with the pivotal connection between said slide and said advance bar and said forward stop bar for pivoting said forward stop bar out of engagement with said apron of said drum when said slide is moved in one direction so as to cause said advance bar to rotate said drum about its vertical axis 5.; in one direction, and pivotal stop means movable by said slide when it is moved in one direction into engagement with one of said apertures for preventing continuous movement of said drum in said one direction after it has been moved by said slide a predetermined distance, and a manually operated means exterior of said housing for moving said movable means.

3. In a vending apparatus including a housing provided with a delivery slot in its side wall, a vending drum within said housing and rotatable about a vertical axis, said drum providing a plurality of outwardly opening radially-arranged vertically extending compartments, a retaining cage within said housing and having means encircling said drum, said means providing a vertically extending delivery passage in open communication with the delivery slot of said housing, said means preventing access to said compartments except through said delivery passage, said drum providing a depending peripheral apron having a plurality of equally spaced apertures formed therein, a reciprocal slide within said housing for rotating said drum in one direction to successively move said compartments into open communication with the delivery slot and delivery passage, said slide having pivotally connected thereto an advance bar and .a forward stop bar each having a portion thereof engaging certain of said apertures formed in said apron of said drum so as to prevent movement of said drum in either direction about its vertical axis, and means yieldably connecting said advanced bar to said forward stop bar and cooperating with the pivotal connection between said slide and said advance bar and said forward stop bar for pivoting said forward stop bar out of engagement with said apron of said drum said slide is moved in one direction so as to cause said advance bar to rotate said drum about its vertical axis in one direction, and pivotal stop means movable by said slide when it is moved in one direction into engagement with one of said apertures for preventing continuous movement of said drum in said one direction after it has been moved by said slide a pre-determined distance.

4. In a vending apparatus including a housing pro vided with a delivery slot in its side wall, a vending drum within said housing and rotatable about a vertical axis, said drum providing a plurality of outwardly opening radially-arranged vertically extending compartments, a retaining cage within said housing and having means encircling said drum, said means providing a vertically extending delivery passage in open communication with the delivery slot of said housing, said means preventing access to said compartments except through said delivery passage, said drum providing a depending peripheral apron having a plurality of equally spaced apertures formed therein, a reciprocal slide within said housing for rotating said drum in one direction to successively move said compartments into open communication with the delivery slot and delivery passage, said slide having pivotally connected thereto an advance bar and a forward stop bar each having a portion thereof engaging certain of said apertures formed in said apron of said drum so as to prevent movement of said drum in either direction about its vertical axis, and means yieldably connecting said advanced bar to said forward stop bar and cooperating with the pivotal connection between said slide and said advance bar and said forward stop bar for pivoting said forward stop bar out of engagement with said apron of said drum when said silde is moved in one direction so as to cause said advance bar to rotate said drum about its vertical axis in one direction, and pivotal stop means movable by said slide when it is moved in one direction into engagement with one of said apertures for preventing continous movement of said drum in said one direction after it has been moved by said slide a predetermined distance, and a manually operated means exterior of said housing for moving said movable means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

